Pole top luminaire mounting device



A ril 28, 1970 E. R. JABLONSKI 3,503,731

POLE TOP LUMINAIRE MOUNTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Zia .ZWY/EA/TOR. fiazz/am A. dirblomsk United States Patent O US. Cl.248-221 'Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pole top luminaire mountingfitting having collet type means for engaging the interior of a roundtubular upright pole and clamping means for holding the secured end of acantilever luminaire support. The fitting further includes a removablecover and means for adapting the device for supporting either one or twoluminaires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pole top luminairemounting devices and, more particularly, to attachment assemblies forremovably securing one or more luminaires to the top of a vertical pole.

In the field of pole top luminaire mounting devices, the prior art hasincluded slipfitter devices secured to the pole by means of conventionalfastening devices such as set screws. An improved approach isillustrated in Patent No. 3,156,418, issued Nov. 10, 1964 to Edward R.Jablonski and Harold A. Van Dusen, Jr. and assigned to the presentassignee. This device consists of a collet type clamping device whichslips over the top of a pole and has a series of sliding wedges whichclamp about the periphery of the pole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the erection of pole supported lightingapparatus, tubular supporting poles and tubular cantilever arms arecommonly used. It is highly desirable to distribute the stressesoccurring at mechanical connecting points over as wide an area aspossible in order to provide a rigid structure of maximum strength. Thecommonly used set screw devices give rise to high stress concentrations.The collet type slipfitter of the aforementioned Patent No. 3,156,418was an improvement in this respect and is still highly satisfactory formany purposes. It is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcollet type attachment with easily adjusted and easily accessible collettightening means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mounting device ofthe aforedescribed type with an en closure with a pleasing appearanceand with a removable cover to provide easy access to enclosed fasteningmeans and wiring chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of theaforedescribed type with maximum adaptability in that one or a pluralityof cantilever arms may be thereby supported.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

These objects are accomplished by providing a luminaire mounting devicehaving a body portion for being placed on top of the mounting pole andhaving a depending hub portion for being inserted within the top of thetubular pole. The hub has a plurality of upwardly and outwardly slopingsurfaces upon which slide a series of peripherally positioned slidingwedge type collet segments. Adjusting means are provided for forceablydrawing the collet segments toward the body portion and outwardly on thesloping surfaces to firmly engage the inner surface of the tubularmounting pole. Arm clamping "Ice means are provided for clamping theinner ends of the cantilever luminaire supporting arms to the bodyportion. One or more arms may be so accommodated. A removable cover tothe body portion provides easy access to the collet adjusting means andforms a wiring chamber. The cover and body are also provided with meansfor holding removable plugs which cover unused arm accommodatingapertures in the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of acomplete luminaire assembly mounted on a vertical supporting pole, whichassembly embodies the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the assembly shown in FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but taken in section generallythrough the center of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken generally on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a pole top mounting assembly with oneof the collet segments removed; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the collet segments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,FIGURE 1 shows a tapered tubular aluminum pole 2 supporting aconventional luminaire 3. Luminaire 3 may be fastened in a conventionalmanner to the outer end of a cantilever tubular aluminum supporting arm4. Electrical wiring (not shown) is normally enclosed within pole 2 andarm 4. A mounting assembly indicated generally by numeral 5 mechanicallyconnects the inner end of arm 4 to the top of pole 2.

The mounting assembly comprises a body portion 6 and a cover portion 7.Body 6 and cover 7 have chamfered mating edges 8 and 9, respectively.Screws 10 and 11 removably fasten cover 7 to body 6. Access to the headsof screws 10 and 11 is provided by recesses 12 and 13 in cover 7. Cover7 has semi-circular recesses 14 and 15 in the lower edges of oppositesides thereof to accommodate luminaire supporting arms, such as arm 4.

Body member 6 is provided with a generally cylindrical recess 20 intowhich the top of pole 2 loosely fits. The top edge of tubular pole 2abuts body 6 at the end surface of recess 20. An axially split hub 21,comprising two similar projecting portions 21a and 21b, projects axiallyfrom the end surface of recess 20 to extend downwardly within the upperend of pole 2. Each of projections 21a and 21b is provided with upwardlyand outwardly sloping camming surfaces on the opposite edges thereof.Projection 21a has camming surfaces 22 and 23, while projection 21b hascamming surfaces 24 and 25. Camming surfaces 23 and 25 are substantiallycoplanar. Similarly, surfaces 22 and 24 are coplanar. The end surface ofrecess 20 contains a circular aperture 26 between the upper ends ofprojections 21a and 21b to accommodate electrical wiring (not shown).

Opposite upper edges of body 6 have recesses 31 and 32 which, togetherwith the corresponding semi-circular recesses 14 and 15 in cover 7, formcircular apertures in mounting assembly 5 to accommodate the inner endsof luminaire supporting arms, such as arm 4. Lips 33 and 34 extendoutwardly below apertures 31 and 32, respectively, to provide additionalsupport for arms, such as arm 4.

The body 6 encloses an open topped substantially rectangular cavity 35.A wall 36 is formed on the bottom of cavity 35 and extends from one sidethereof to the other. Wall 36 has a rounded recess in its centralportion to conform to the periphery of the inner end of arm 4 and toserve as a support therefor. A stop 37 is formed adjacent aperture 26and parallels wall 36 to properly position the end of arm 4. Similarly,a wall 38 and a stop 39 are formed on the opposite half of cavity 35 toaccommodate an oppositely projecting arm (not shown).

Clamping means are provided for rigidly securing the inner end of arm 4within mounting assembly 5. This clamping means comprises a U-nut 42formed of tubular steel bent into a U-shape and having a flattened bightportion 43 to spread the force exerted on arm 4 over a wider area. Thisclamping device is of a type more completely described in U.S. Patent3,400,436, issued Sept. 10, 1968, by Edward R. Jablonski and assigned tothe present assignee. The cylindrical ends of U-nut 42 are internallythreaded to accommodate a pair of screws 44. Screws 44 pass throughapertures 45, and the heads thereof bear against relieved surfaces 46 inthe lower surface of body 6. Screws 44 are turned to draw U-nut 42tightly against arm 4 to rigidly secure the inner end of arm 4 withinbody 6. If desired, a similar U-nut and screws may be assembled on theother side of cavity 35 to provide clamping means for an arm similar toarm 4 extending from the opposite side of mounting assembly 5.

A plug 47 may be used to close an unused arm accommodating opening inmounting assembly 5. Plug 47 is formed of sheet aluminum with acup-shaped center portion to fit closely within and fill the unusedaperture in mounting assembly 5. The upper and lower inwardly bent edgesof plug 47 are held by plug retaining ridges 48 and 49, respectively,formed on the inner surfaces of cover 7 and body 6, respectively. Plug47 is thereby secured firmly in place when cover 7 is placed over body6. A similar pair of plug retaining ridges 50 and 51 are formed on theopposite half of the interior of mounting assembly 5.

The collet type clamping means for attachment to the top of pole 2comprises two very roughly semi-cylindrical wedge-type collet segments55 and 56. The outer cylindrical surfaces of collet segments 55 and 56aproximately conform to the interior dimensions of the tubular top ofpole 2. Collet segment 55 is provided on its inner side with movablewedging surfaces 57 and 58 which slidingly engage the stationary wedgingsurfaces 22 and 24, respectively. Similarly, collet segment 56 hascamming surfaces 59 and 60 which slidingly engage the stationary cammingsurfaces 23 and 25, respectively. A screw 61 engages a threaded portion62 in the upper end of collet segment 55, and a screw 63 engages athreaded portion 64 in collet segment 56. Screw 61 extends through anaperture in the bottom of body 6, and the head of screw 61 with a flatwasher 65 and a lock washer 66 engages the lower surface of cavity 35.Similarly, screw 63 extends through an aperture where its head, togetherwith a flat washer 67 and a lock washer 68, engages the lower surface ofcavity 35. The threads at the lower ends of screws 61 and 63 aredeformed slightly to prevent the inadvertent disassembly of colletsegments 55 and 56 from screws 61 and 63.

With collet segments 55 and 56 in a relative low position with respectto hub 21, the collet type attachment device comprising hub 21 andcollet segments 55 and 56 may be inserted within the upper end of pole2. Screws 61 and 63 are then turned to draw wedges '55 and 56 upwardly.Collet segments 55 and 56 then slide upwardly and outwardly along thesloping camming surfaces 22, 23, 24 and 25. Collet segments 55 and 56engage the inner surface of pole 2 and, as screws 61 and 63 aretightened, collet segments 55 and 56 are wedged tightly between hub 21and the inner surface of pole 2 to firmly attach the mounting assemblyto the top of pole 2. There may be some deformation of pole 2 or thecollet assembly so that the collet assembly may fit variously sizedpoles within limits.

Collet segments 55 and 56 may be loosened if it is desired to removeassembly 5 by loosening screws 61 and 63 and driving them forceablydownward.

I claim:

1. A lighting device mounting assembly for attachment to the top of atubular supporting pole comprising:

body means for being mounted on the top of said pole and including hubmeans depending from said body means for extending in the direction ofthe axis of said pole into the upper end of said pole, said hub meansincluding first cam surfaces on the lateral surfaces of said hu-b means,said first cam surfaces being inclined with respect to said axis;

collet type wedge means including second cam surfaces slidingly engagingsaid first cam surfaces and positioned laterally of said hub means to bebetween said hub means and the internal surface of said pole when saidmounting device is placed on the top of said pole with said hubextending into the upper end of said pole;

means for forceably moving said collet type wedge means with respect tosaid hub means, whereby said first and second cam surfaces force saidcollet type wedge means laterally against said internal surface of saidpole to firmly clamp said mounting device to said pole; said means formoving said collet type wedge means comprises screw means between saidbody means and said collet type wedge means, acting when turned to drawsaid collet type wedge means toward said body means; and

said hub means and said collet type wedge means are keyed together toprevent rotational movement of said collet type wedge means with respectto said axis of said pole.

2. A lighting device mounting assembly for attachment to the top of atubular supporting pole comprising:

body means for being mounted on the top of said pole and including hubmeans depending from said body means for extending in the direction ofthe axis of said pole into the upper end of said pole, said hub meansincluding first cam surfaces on the lateral surfaces of said hub means,said first cam surfaces being inclined with respect to said axis;

collet type wedge means including second cam surfaces slidingly engagingsaid first cam surfaces and positioned laterally of said hub means to bebetween said hub means and the internal surface of said pole when saidmounting device is placed on the top of said pole witlh said hubextending into the upper end of said 1 means for forceably moving saidcollet type wedge means with respect to said hub means, whereby saidfirst and second cam surfaces force said collet type wedge meanslaterally against said internal surface of said pole to firmly clampsaid mounting device to said pole; said means for moving said collettype wedge means comprises screw means between said body means and saidcollet type wedge means, acting when turned to draw said collet typewedge means toward said body means;

said screw means engages said collet type wedge means below said bodymeans and extends upwardly through an aperture in said body means andterminates in means for turning said screw means, said turning meansbeing accessible for operation from above said body means; and

said hub means and said collet type wedge means are keyed together toprevent rotational movement of said collet type wedge means with respectto said axis of said pole.

3. A lighting device mounting assembly for attachment to the top of atubular supporting pole comprising:

body means for being mounted on the top of said pole and including hubmeans depending from said body means for extending in the direction ofthe axis of said pole into the upper end of said pole, said hub meansincluding first cam surfaces on the lateral surfaces of said hub means,said first cam surfaces being inclined with respect to said axis;

collet type wedge means including second cam surfaces slidingly engagingsaid first cam Surfaces and positioned laterally of said hub means to bebetween said hub means and the internal surface of said pole when saidmounting device is placed on the top of said pole with said hubextending into the upper end of said pole;

means for forceably moving said collet type wedge means with respect tosaid hub means, whereby said first and second cam surfaces force saidcollet type Wedge means laterally against said internal surface of saidpole to firmly clamp said mounting device to said pole; said means formoving said collet type wedge means comprises screw means between saidbody means and said collet type wedge means, acting when turned to drawsaid collet type wedge means toward said body means;

said screw means engages said collet type wedge means below said bodymeans and extends upwardly through an aperture in said body means andterminates in means for turning said screw means, said turning meansbeing accessible for operation from above said body means, said bodymeans includes a central open topped cavity in which said turning meansis positioned;

cover means for covering said central cavity and for being removablysecured to said body means; and

said hub means and said collet type wedge means are keyed together toprevent rotational movement of said collet type wedge means with respectto said axis of said pole.

4. A lighting device mounting assembly for attachment to the top of atubular supporting pole comprising:

body means for being mounted on the top of said pole and including hubmeans depending from said body means for extending in the direction ofthe axis of said pole into the upper end of said pole, said hub meansincluding first cam surfaces on the lateral surfaces of said hub means,said first cam surfaces being inclined with respect to said axis, saidbody means including a central open-topped cavity and extending portionsfor extending laterally beyond the outer diameter of said pole;

collet type wedge means including second cam surfaces slidingly engagingsaid first cam surfaces and positioned laterally of said hub means to bebetween said hub means and the internal surface of said pole when saidmounting device is placed on the top of said pole with said hubextending into the upper end of said pole;

means for forceably moving said collet type wedge means with respect tosaid hub means, whereby said first and second cam surfaces force saidcollet type wedge means laterally against said internal surface of saidpole to firmly clamp said mounting device to said pole;

clamping means at least partially within said cavity for clamping tosaid body means at least one laterally extending luminaire supportingarm, said clamping means comprising a clamping member with adjustingmeans extending through said extending portions, whereby said adjustingmeans is accessible to tighten said clamping means from the exterior ofsaid body means; and

cover means for covering said cavity and said clamping means, said covermeans being removably secured to said body means.

5. A lighting device mounting assembly for attachment to the top of atubular supporting pole comprising:

body means for being mounted on the top of said pole and including hubmeans depending from said body means for extending in the direction ofthe axis of said pole into the upper end of said pole, said hub meansincluding first cam surfaces on the lateral surfaces of said hub means,said first cam surfaces being inclined with respect to said axis, saidbody means including a central open-topped cavity and extending portionsfor extending laterally beyond the outer diameter of said pole;

collet type wedge means including second cam surfaces slidingly engagingsaid first cam surfaces and positioned laterally of said hub means to bebetween said hub means and the internal surface of said pole When saidmounting device is placed on the top of said pole with said hubextending into the upper end of said pole;

means for forceably moving said collet type wedge means with respect tosaid hub means, whereby said first and second cam surfaces force saidcollet type wedge means laterally against said internal surface of saidpole to firmly clamp said mounting device to said pole;

clamping means at least partially within said cavity for clamping tosaid body means at least one laterally extending luminaire supportingarm, said clamping means comprising a clamping member with adjustingmeans extending through said extending portions, whereby said adjustingmeans is accessible to tighten said clamping means from the exterior ofsaid body means;

said clamping means comprises a U-shaped member having a bight portionwithin said cavity for clampingly engaging the inner end of one of saidarms, said U-shaped member having its legs extending through said bodyto terminate in threaded adjusting means; and

cover means for covering said cavity and said clamping means, said covermeans being removably secured to said body means.

6. A lighting device mounting assembly for attachment to the top of atubular supporting pole comprising:

body means for being mounted on the top of said pole and including hubmeans, axially divided into at least two parts depending from said bodymeans, extending in the direction of the axis of said pole into theupper end of said pole, said hub means including first cam surfaces onthe lateral surfaces of said hub means, said first cam surfaces beinginclined with respect to said axis, said body means including anaperture between said parts for providing a passageway from one side ofsaid body means to the other;

collet type wedge means including second cam surfaces slidingly engagingsaid first cam surfaces and positioned laterally of said hub means to be:between said hub means and the internal surface of said pole when saidmounting device is placed on the top of said pole with said hubextending into the upper end of said pole; and

means for forceably moving said collet type Wedge means with respect tosaid hub means, whereby said first and second cam surfaces force saidcollet type wedge means laterally against said internal surface of saidpole to firmly clamp said mounting device to said pole.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, together with clamping means forclamping to said body means at least one laterally extending luminairesupporting arm.

8. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which:

said body means comprises extending portions for extending laterallybeyond the outer diameter of said pole; and

said clamping means comprises a clamping member with adjusting meansextending through said extending portions, whereby said adjusting meansis accessible to tighten said clamping means from the exterior of saidbody means.

9. An attachment assembly for interconnecting a tubular member to atubular pole comprising:

body means mounted on said tubular pole including a hub means axiallydivided into at least two parts extending into the interior of saidpole, said hub means having first surfaces that are tapered with respectto the axis of said pole, said body means includes an aperture betweensaid parts for providing a passageway from one side of said body meansto the other;

a tubular member for attachment to said body means;

means for mounting said tubular member onto said body means;

collect type wedge means positioned within said tubular pole laterallyof said hub means to be between said hub means and the internal surfaceof said tubular pole including second surfaces having a reverse taper toand contacting said first surfaces, said collet type Wedge means havingcollet surfaces opposite said second surfaces; and

means for forceably moving said collet type wedge means with respect tosaid body means so that said first surfaces and said second surfacesforce said collet surfaces into contact with said internal surface ofsaid tubular pole.

10. An attachment assembly as defined in claim 9 in which said collettype wedge means includes at least two collet type wedge elements withsaid collet surfaces thereon individually defining an arc of at least 45on said interior surface of said tubular pole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Canada.

20 ROY D. =FRAZIER, Primary Examiner I. FRANKLIN FOSS, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

